DRC President Tshisekedi calls for national dialogue excluding M23 rebels

**DRC President Calls for National Dialogue Excluding M23 Rebels**

Kinshasa – President Félix Tshisekedi announced a proposal for a national dialogue aimed at reducing tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The dialogue, however, will not include representatives of the M23 rebel group, which continues to operate in the eastern part of the country. In conjunction with the dialogue initiative, the government indicated that it intends to suspend operations at 11 public universities located in areas under rebel control.

The president’s call comes amid ongoing security concerns in the east, where the M23 movement has been engaged in armed confrontations with state forces. Tshisekedi’s statement emphasized the need for a “peaceful and inclusive” process for all Congolese citizens, while asserting that the exclusion of the M23 is intended to prevent the legitimisation of armed groups in political negotiations.

**Ghana: Fatal Accidents Linked to Illegal Gold‑Mining Pits**

Accra – In Ghana, authorities reported that 23 individuals, including 11 children, died after falling into abandoned illegal gold‑mining pits, commonly referred to locally as “galamsey” sites. The incidents highlight a surge in unregulated mining activities across the country, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of mining regulations and increased public safety measures.

**Cameroon: US Deportees Await Asylum Decisions Amid Controversial Bilateral Agreements**

Yaoundé – A number of individuals deported from the United States to Cameroon are currently awaiting decisions on their asylum claims. The deportees face uncertainty and fear of persecution, according to human‑rights observers. Their situation follows recent agreements between the United States and more than 30 countries that allow the U.S. to transfer individuals it cannot legally deport directly to their home nations.

These developments underscore ongoing challenges in governance, security, and human‑rights protection across the African continent.

Article and image source: france24.com